Elevator door system



Aug. 8, 1950 R. RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 27. 1947 iNVENTOR l awn/U5 E 535/6/7 ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1950 R.RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1947INVENTOR WITNESSES: fi 732% L arm/a5 E El 3.9/6/7 fl Offim ATTORNEY Aug.8, 1950 I L. R. RISSLER ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledSept. 27, 194'? r 2 E We 5 m z WITNESSES:

ATTORN EY Aug. 1950 R. RISSLER 2,517,713

ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM Filed Sept. 27, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I05 I Z 7/0.9 /07 WITNESSES: INVENTOR sY kfajmn ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950ELEVATOR noon SYSTEM Lennius B. Rissler, Hh0kllS,N. .L, assignor toWestinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application September 27, 1947, Serial No. 776,597

1 This invention relates to door assemblies and it has particularrelation to elevator systems employing power-driven door assemblies.

Tlhe invention is applicable to door assemblies of. varioustypes such ascenter opening, side opening, single speed and two-speed doorassemblies. However, for the purpose of discussion, reference will bemade to door assemblies of the center opening type as employed inelevator systems.

8 Claims; (01. 187--31) In accordance with the invention, an elevator'car is provided with a door operating motor which opens and closes notonly the car doors but the associated hatch or shaft doors. In order toprevent unauthorized door operation, latches are provided for retainingthe doors. inclosed positions- Provision is made for release of thelatches by the motor disposed on the elevator car. To this end, a slipcoupling is provided through which the motor releases the latches. Uponcompletion of the releasing operation, the slip 'coup- It is a furtherobject of the invention to provide adoor assembly wherein a, motor opensand closes a door and also releases latches which in latched positionretain the door in closed position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a motor foroperating doors with a slip coupling through which additional functionsmay be performed.

It is also an objectof the invention to provide cessively closed as anelevator door approaches closed position and wherein the switches areselectively available for performing a desired control operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation with parts broken away of anelevator car embodying the invention;

an elevator system wherein switches are sucv 2 Fig. la is a view in sideelevation of a camassembly employed in the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional elevation of a portionota hatch suitablefor the elevator car of Fig.1; I

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the hatch of Fig. 2, showing theelevator car of Fig.1 adjacent a pair of hatch doors;

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan with parts broken away of a latch assemblyembodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation with parts broken away showing thelatch assembly of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a detailview in section showing the construction of a slipcoupling employed in the invention;

Fig.7 is a View in top plan with parts broken away showin amodificationof the latch assembly illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation with parts broken away of thestructure shown inFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a control circuit suitable for an elevatorsystem embodying the invention; I

Fig.l0 is a View in side elevation with parts broken away of a modifiedlatch assembly;and Fig; 11 is a view in plan of a contact assemblyemployedin the latch assembly of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an elevator car i which ismounted in a suitable hatch (not shown in Fig. l) for reciprocation inthe direction of the arrows 3. The elevator car includes'a pair ofcenter opening doors 5 and 1. The door 5 is mounted on hangers 9 havingrollers II for reciprocation along a horizontal rail l3. In a similarmanner, the door I is provided with hangers l5 having rollers llengagingthe rail l3to guide the door 7 therealong. It will be noted thatthe door 5 is movable from the closed position illustrated in full linesto an open position fia indicated in dotted lines. The door 1 similarlyis movable fromthe closed position illustrated in fulllines to an openposition lat indi- I cated in dotted lines.

In order to open and close the doors 5. and I, a door operating lever18. is pivotally mounted .on the car I" by means of a suitable pivot 2i.One end of the lever [B is pivotally connected to a link 23 which, I inturn, is pivotally connected by "means of a pin 25 to the door 5. In asomewhat similar manner, an operatinglever 21 is pivotally v "secured tothe car I by means of a pivot 29. The lever '21 also is pivotallyconnected to a link 3! which is pivotally attached to the door 5' bymeans of a suitable pivot 33.

By inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that a link has its endspivotally connected respectively to the levers it or 21. Consequently,as the operating lever is is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. l, to open the door 5., the link 35 rotates the operating lever2'! in a counterclockwise direction to open the door '1. Reversemovements of the levers reclose the doors. The structure of Fig. 1 thusfar specifically described is well known in the art.

Operating forces are applied to the lever l9 through a link 31 which hasone end pivotally connected to the lever l9 and its remaining endpivotally connected to a crankv 39. The. free end of the crank 39 isrigidly secured to a shaft 4|. Consequently, as the crank 39 rotates ina clockwise direction from the position illustrated in full lines to theposition 39a illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l, the doors 5 and Iare opened. It should be noted that during this operation the crank '39travelsless than 180. Also, because of the angular relationships betweenthe crank and the link 31, if the crank rotates at a uniform angularrate, the doors move at low speeds ad jacent their open and closedpositions and with a substantially larger velocity adjacent intermediatepositions.

Rotation of the shaft 4| is effected by an electric, motor 43 through asuitable gear reduction 45. The electric motor 43 is provided with asuitable reversing control. For example, a push button ma be provided toenergize the electric motor for rotation in a first direction tov openthe doors. A second push button then maybe provided to energize themotor for rotation in a reverse direction to. close the doors. Sincecircuits for controlling door operating motors are wellknown in the art,a detailed discussion thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

The elevator car of Fig. 1 is designed for reciprocation in a shaft orhatch 41 which is shown in part in Fig. 2. As well understood .in the.art, the hatch extends in a vertical direction in a bu'ildingto guidethe elevator car between a number of floors. At each of the floors thehatch 41 is providedwith a pair of hatch doors 4'9 and 5| which may bemoved from the closed .pos'itions illustrated in full lines to the openpositions 49a. and 51a shown in broken lines. The door 49 is providedwith hangers 53 and hanger rollers 55 for guiding the door along ahorizontal rail 5.? which is secured to the hatch. Similarly, the door5| is provided with hangers 59 andv hanger rollers 6| which guide thedoor 5| along the rail '51.

In order to assure movement of the doors 49 and '5 in unison, a pair ofsheaves 63 and 65 are mounted for rotation adjacent the ends of the rail51. A flexible cable 51 extends around the sheave 63 and has its endsconnected respectively to one of the hangers 53 and one of the hangers59. In a somewhat similar manner, a flexible cable 69 extends around thesheave 65 and has its ends connected respectively to one of the hangers55 and one of the hangers 6|. The flexible cables assure movements ofthe doors in unison in a manner well known in the art.

The doors 49 and 5| are resiliently biased towards closed position inany suitable manner. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a pair of links H and 13are pivotally connected together. The free end of the link 13 ispivotally connected to the door 49 and the free end of the link H ispivotally connected to a lug 75 which is secured to the hatch. A springunit 11 is pivotally connected to the link H and to 2. lug I9 which issecured to the hatch. The spring unit 11 continuously urges the link IIin a clockwise direction about the lug 15 for the purpose of urging thedoors 49 and 5| towards their closed positions. The spring unit I! mayinclude a hydraulic check or shock absorber to prevent slamming of thedoors. The spring unit H closes the doors if for any reason they areopened when the elevator car is not adjacent the associated floor. Inaddition, the spring unit tends to eliminate vibration which otherwisemight be present during an opening or closing operation of the doors.

It is desirable that the same motor employed for operating the elevatorcar doors be employed for opening and closing the hatch doors 49 and 5|.For this reason, mechanism is provided for connecting the elevator carand hatch doors when the elevator car is adjacent such hatch doors. Asshown in Fig. 2, the. door 49 is provided with a grooved block 8| whichis positioned to receive slidably in the groove a vane83 which issecured to one, of the elevator car doors (the vane is shown in dottedlines in.Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 1, the vane 83 is elongated in thedirection of travel of the elevator car. The relationship between thevane 83 and the grooved lock 8| is clearly shown in Fig. 3. As shown inFig. 3, when the elevator car is adjacent a floor of the associatedbuilding the vane 83 is received in the groove 'Bla of the block 8|.When the door 1 on the elevator car is moved by its associated electricmotor 43, operating forces are also applied through the vane 83 and thegroove block 8| to the door 49. Consequently, the same motor iseffective for opening and closing both the elevator car and the doorsand the hatch doors.

Since the hatch doors are accessible to the public at each floor of thebuilding in which the elevator system is located, it is desirable thatthe doors be latched against unauthorized operation. For this purpose, alatch unit 85 is mounted on one of the hangers 53 (see Fig. 2) and alatch casing 81 is secured to the rail 51. Release of the latch unit. iseffected by rotation of a rod 89 which has an operating arm 9| andanoperating roller 93 at one end thereof. Emergency release of the latchunit may be effected by arms A which are engageable by a removableoperatingkey K. The construction of the latch unit 85 and the latchcasing 81 will be understood .from astudy of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that two latches 85a and85b are mounted for rotation on a pin 95 which is secured to the hanger'53. The latch 85a has an arm 91 which cooperates with a stop pin 99secured tothe hanger 53. to permit a'limited rotation of the latch 85aabout the ,pin 95. The latch 85b may be provided with an arm (not shown)similar to the arm 9'! for the same purpose.

The latch 850. has .a lip ||1| which cooperates with a rib I93. of thecasing 81 to latch the doors against movement. As the doc-rs approachclosed position, a. bevel H14. on the latch 85a ridesv over the rib I03until the lip 'Hll drops to prevent an opening movement of the doors. Inorder to expedite operation of the elevator system, the lip lfll, may bedesigned to drop over the rib I03 before the doors reached fully closedposition. For example, the doors may be approximately two inches fromfully closed position when the latch 85a drops to prevent a reopening ofthe doors.

During the continued closing operation of the doors, thelip IOImovesawayfrorn therib I03 to the position illustratedinFig 5. I

The latch 85b is designed to. latchlthe doors in fully closed position.To this end,'the latch 85?) has a lip I05 which rides over the rib I03and drops in the position illustrated inFig. 5 just as the doors reachfully closed position.

In order to release the latches, a release lever I01 is pivotallysecured by a pin I09 to the casing 81. This lever has a plate I IIpositioned under the lips IOI and I05. Consequently, when thereleaselever I01 is rotated in a. clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.5, the plate III raises the lips I05 and IDI until he lips can bewithdrawn over the rib I03.

It will be recalled that the release operation of the latches may beeffected by rotation of the rod 89. This rod is rotatably mounted insuitable bearings H3 and .I I5 provided inthe casing 81. The rod 99carries a pin II1. which projects Conveniently, one or more of thelatches may be employed for operating an electric switch to provide acontrol for theelevator system. For example, in Figs. 4 and 5, the latch05a has an insulating plate I2I secured thereto in any suitable manneras by a machine screw I23. The insulating plate IZI has a metal stripI25 secured to its lower face in any suitable manner. By inspection ofFig. 5, it will be observed that the metal strip I25 is positioned toengage the operating pin I21 of an electric switch I29. Consequently, asthe lip IOI clears the rib I03 during a closing operation of thedoorsthe metal strip I25 drops to engage the pin I21 and operate theswitch I29. It will be recalled that such operation occurs when thedoors are a proximately two inches from their fully closed position. Theswitch I29 may be in the control circuit for the elevator car to preventmovement of the elevator car until the latch 85a has entered the casing81 to prevent opening of the associate doors. The switch ,will bediscussed further below.

It will be recalled that the latches may be released by suitableactuation of the roller93 to rotate the rod 89. The weight of the rollerand arm 9| normally keep the rod in the position i1- lustrated in Fig.5. For the purpose of actuating the roller 93, a cam I3I is provided(see Figs. 1, la. and 3). The cam I3I is secured to the elevator car byparallel links I33 (see Fig. 1a).

Each of the links I33 is pivoted to the cam and to an angle member I35which is secured to the elevator car. By inspection of Fig. 1a., it willbe observed that the full lines show the cam I3I in retracted position.As the cam islifted by means of a link I31, the links I33 approach ahorizontal position and project thecam towards the broken line positionI39 to actuate the roller 93.

I The link I311is actuated by means of a bell-.

otallyconnected thereto. ;The remaining end of the rod I45 is connectedpivotally to an arm I41 which is mounted for rotation about the axis of6 slip coupling which is illustrated in detail in Fig.6. As shown inFig. 6, the crank 39 has a male conical. surface I53 which is positionedadjacent a mating female conical surface I55 formed in the arm I41. Thearm I41 is resiliently biased to wards the crank 39 by means of a coilspring I51 which is located between two washers I59 and I 6|. The washerI59 surrounds the shaft 4| and abuts a shoulder 4Ia formed on the shaft.Suitable friction material M may be located between the arm I41 and theadjacent surfaces of the crank 39 and the washer I6I. Such material maytake the form of leather or other materials commonly employed forfacings of clutches or brakes. From the foregoing discussion, it isclear that the arm I41 is coupled to the shaft 4| through a slipfriction clutch or slip coupling.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the arm I41 has alimited angular movement. For example, a movement of 5 aboutthe axis ofthe shaft 4| may suflice to move the cam I3I between its retracted andexpanded positions. However, the slip coupling permits continuedrotation of the shaft 4| to complete the opening or closing of theassociated doors.

It will be recalled that the latch a. shownin Fig. 5 is designed tooperate a switch I129 about two inches before closure of the doors. Ifdesired, a similar electric switch I65 (Figs. '7 and 8) may beassociated with a latch 8513 which corresponds to the latch 85b of Fig.4. To this end, it may be necessary to space the parts toprovideadequate room for theswitch I65 but, except for the changes hereinmentioned, the structure of the latch unit and casing otherwise remainsthe same as. that described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

The latch 85B of Figs. 7 and 8 is similar tothe latch b Of Fig. 4 exceptthat an extension I61 is provided for reception of an insulating plateI69. The insulating plate I69 is similar to plate I 2 I but may besomewhat shorter for the reason that it engages its associated switchI65 only when the doors are in fully closed position. The lever I01acorrespondsto the lever I01 of Figs. 4 and 5 but is provided with asomewhat larger plate I IIa because of the increased spacing between thelatches 85A and 8513. When the structure of Figs. 7 and 8 is employed,the switches I29 and I65 are successively actuated as the doors approachtheir fully closed positions.

The arrangement of the switches I29 and IE5 may be similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 9. p In Fig. 9 the hatch doors for the variousfloors are indicated by the labels, Door 1" and Door 2. It will beunderstood that the number of doors corresponds to the number of floorsbut it will be assumed, for the purpose of simplicity, that only twodoors are served by the elevator car. The switches I29 and l 55 of allthe doors are connected in series with a car switch CS and the solenoidof a relay R between two conductors LI andLZ which represents a sourceof direct current. The switches I29 and IE5 for Door #1 are illustratedin detail. If Door #1 is open both of the switches I29 and I65 are open.As the door oloses, the switch I29 closes in advance of the switch I65.It will be assumed that the relay R controls the starting circuit forthe elevator car. i

In order to permit either of the s-witchesI29 and IE5 to control in partthe energization of the relay R, jumpers may be provided for shuntingeither of theswitches. As shown in Fig. 911a 43 to open the doors.

single-pole double-throw switch 'IH is provided. In the full lineposition of the switch I'll, the

contacts of the switch I65 are shunted and the contacts of the switchI29 are shunted in the dotted line position of the switch 'i'l l. Withthe switch III in the position illustrated in full lines, the switch I29 is efiective for preventing energization of the relay R when the Door#1 is open. Since this switch closes when the door is approxi mately twoinches from its closed position, the relay R is made effective forenergization upon operation of the car switch before complete closure ofthe door.

'With the switch I'll in its dotted line position, the switch I isefiective 'for preventing energization of the relay B when the door I isopen. Since this switch does not close until the door is substantiallyin its closed position, the relay R .cannot be energized until the dooris substantially closed. Such operation may be desirable under certainconditions'such as night operation of the elevator system.

It is "believed that the operation of the system is apparent from theforegoing discussion. When the elevator car approaches a floor at whichthe doors are to be opened, a circuit is completed in a conventionalmanner for energizing the motor Such energization may take place severalinches in advance of the arrival of the elevator car at th desiredfloor. It will be understood that the cam it'll and the vane 83 havelengths sufficient to permit such advance energization of the electricmotor.

In response to energization of the electric motor 43, the shaft 4| andthe arm I' l! are rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l.The rotation of the arm I0 which may be through an angle of the order offive degrees is sufficient to advance the cam I3I to unlatch the doors.The five degree rotation of the shaft 4| necessary to unlock the doorsmay move the doors a distance of the order of of an inch. The mechanismhas sufficient play to permit such movement of the doors.

Following completion of the movement of the arm I41, the shaft AI andthe crank 39 continue to rotate. Such rotation is permitted by the slipcoupling connection between the arm it? and the shaft 4|. The rotationof the crank continues until the doors are fully open or until the doorsare reversed.

As the doors open, the latches 85a and 85b leave their associated casing87 and the switch or switches associated with the latches are opened.

movement of the doors as the elevator car moves away from the associatedfloor.

A single latch c(Fig.' .10) may be employed to perform the functions of.both of the latches 55a and'85b. The latch85c is mounted for rotationabout a pin 950 which corresponds to the pin of Figs. 4 and 5. An arm91c cooperates with a stop ,pin 990 to limit rotation of the latch.

Two lips IiJIc and I550 are provided on the latch 850. The lip IflIccorresponds to the lip ml of Figs. 4 and 5, and cooperates in the sameway with the rib I03 of the casing 810 tolatch the door against opening.The lip I05c corresponds to the lip I05 ofFigs. 4 and 5. The lip H350drops over the rib I03 just as the doors reach fully closed position .toretain the doors in closed position.

During a. door-opening operation, both lips of the latch 850 .are guidedover the rib I03 by raising the plate I II in the manner discussed withreference to Figs. 4 and 5.

.An insulatingplate I2Ic of stepped formation is secured to the latch85c and carries two electroconductive strips I250 and d. During .a doorclosing operation the strip I250 drops upon two spring electricalcontacts I290 vjust as lip lIlIc passes over the rib I03. The strip I250and the contacts I290 constitute a switch (corresponding to the switchI29 of Figs. 4, 5 and v9,) which completes a circuit when the doors aresay two inches from fullyclosed position.

As the .doors continue to close, the lip I050 finally drops overthe .ribI03 to bring the strip I25d into bridging relationship with two springcontacts I550. The strip I25d and thecontacts I650 constitute a switchcorresponding to. the switch ['65 of Figs. '7, 8 and 9. The contactsI290 and i850 are secured to a suitable insulating block 1B.

Althoughtheinvention has been described with reference to certainspecific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications thereof arepossible. Therefore, the appended claims have been drafted to cover notonly the modifications herein. illustrated but also all othermodifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a door assembly, a door, a supporting structure mounting the doorfor movement from a closed to an open position, anoperating member, asupport mounting the member for movement through a predetermined. path,coupling mechanism responsive to movement of the operating memberthrough the path for moving the door between the closed and openpositions, a control element, translating means responsive to movementof'the control element, and a slip coupling connecting the controlelement to the operating member, said slip coupling permitting movementof the'operating member independ- 'entl of the control element.

'89 to return the release lever IN to the position.

illustrated in Fig. 5. As the doors close, the latches 85a and 85bsuccessively close. If the switches I29 alone are effective as (1001'interlock switches, when the doors for a floor at which the elevator caris parked are within two inches of "85b drops into latching position.The vane 53;

has a length sufiicient to permit this final closing 2. An assembly asdefined in claim 1, wherein the control element is restricted to a pathof movement substantially smaller than the predetermined .path, andthetranslating means comprises ;a releasable door lock.

3. In a. door assembly, a .door, a supporting structure mounting thedoor for movement from a closed to an open position, an operatingmember, a support mounting the member for rotation through apredetermined angle, coupling mechanism responsive to rotation of theoperating member through said predetermined. angle for opening andclosing thedoor, a control element, a slip coupling connecting thecontrol elemerit to the operating member for rotation therewith, saidslip coupling permitting movement of the operating member when thecontrol element is restrained from movement, a door latch, and mechanismresponsive to movement of the control element through an anglesubstantially smaller than the predetermined angle for actuating thelatch.

4. A door assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said couplingmechanism in response to rotation of the operating member in a firstdirection through the predetermined angle opens the door and wherein thecoupling mechanism in response to the return of the operating member ina second direction through the predetermined angle closes the door, saidoperating element in response to movement in the first direction througha small portion of the predetermined angle releasing said latch, andsaid operating element in response to a return thereof through saidsmall portion of the predetermined angle in the second directionconditioning said latch for a latching operation.

5. In a door assembly, a door, a supporting structure mounting the doorfor movement from 2 a closed to an open position, a first latch forretaining the door substantially in closed position, a second latch forsecuring the door against an opening operation in response to arrivalotthe i0 door within a predetermined distance from closed position; andmeans mounting the latches for independent pivoted movement about acommon axis.

6. In a door assembly as defined in claim 5, common means for releasingboth of said latches to permit opening of the door.

7. An elevator system comprising a door assembly as defined in claim 3in combination with means cooperating with the door latch for latchingthe door in either of two difierent degrees of closure.

8. An elevator system as claimed in claim '7 in combination with switchmeans having circuitcontrolling contacts opened and closed in responseto operation of the latch.

LENNIUS' R. RISSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,683,925 Shonnard Sept. 11, 19281,909,063 McCormick May 16, 1933 2,240,820 Wilmot May 6, 19 11 2,318,090McCormick May 4, 1943

